Jeremiah Oliver's community feels loss

Saturday

Dec 21, 2013 at 6:00 AMDec 21, 2013 at 6:40 AM

By George Barnes TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

In court Tuesday, when Elsa Oliver was arraigned on child abuse charges connected to the disappearance of 5-year-old Jeremiah Oliver, the boy's uncle, Sandrino Oliver, angrily stormed out of the courtroom, denouncing the way the case was being handled.

Mr. Oliver was angry because his sister-in-law was being sent for mental health evaluation, but no one in court had demanded she produce the boy.

The court was following procedure, a good procedure to ensure people who are mentally unfit to stand trial are not tried. What I found interesting — and refreshing — was Mr. Oliver's righteous anger.

I've been in court many times when people have stormed out because they did not get their way, and often they are putting on a big show.

Mr. Oliver's anger was real and deeply emotional. Police and court officers were concerned enough that they rushed outside to prevent the anger from boiling over into something violent. It was soon apparent Mr. Oliver was not violent, but worried and deeply troubled by his nephew's disappearance. Although many members of the news media were gathered outside to hear what he had to say when he left the courtroom, he just shouted his anger. Finally his wife and other family members stepped in to help him.

So often when someone stomps out of a courtroom you can hear people whispering, "What an idiot." Not in this case. You could see when he left the courtroom the approving looks from many of those waiting for their own cases to be heard. It is not proper to disrupt a court, but everyone familiar with the case knew what he was feeling.

It was simple. Mr. Oliver was angry over a missing child, a member of his family. He just wants the boy to be found, to be safe.

Righteous anger is rare, but meaningful. The term brings to mind fiery abolitionists railing against the evils of slavery, and this is not much different. The evil that has happened to Jeremiah is impossible for any normal person to understand. No one knows for sure if he is alive or dead, but no 5-year-old should just disappear.

This tragedy is deeply felt in Fitchburg, especially in the Latino community. There is a righteous anguish running through that community over the loss of a little boy many of them had never heard of until this week. This is not a cause of the week. It is a deeply felt anguish any parent can understand. It is righteous.

Many of the people who joined Mr. Oliver and his family at vigils for the lost boy did not know the family and had never met Jeremiah. It didn't matter. They were in tears, hugging each other, lighting candles, leaving stuffed animals at a memorial on Kimball Street. Some were grandparents, others parents of young children; there were teenagers, and infants who only knew something profound was happening. Two women created a Facebook page that has not only been a place to remember Jeremiah, it is helping pass along information.

If you think of the term community, the people who banded together in sorrow over the disappearance of Jeremiah Oliver define that. Friendships have been forged through the shared sadness and concern. It has been amazing to see some of the people, obviously from hard circumstances in their own lives, gathering to help the family of a child they have never met. It is amazingly unselfish.

When interviewed, few would voice aloud the terrible possibility that Jeremiah is dead, but his father Jose said he is worried that he is lost while hoping for a miracle. Arriving from Connecticut Thursday, he has become part of the community created over his missing son. He feels the anger and sadness his brother expressed so well. He is worried about Jeremiah and wants to bring him home.

Contact George Barnes at george.barnes@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgebarnesTG.